Wild angelica

How to recognise it

Growth habit

Robust, often short-lived perennial; flowering stems of 1–2 m.

Leaf

Large, two to three times pinnate, with broad, oval, finely toothed leaflets. The leaf stalk is grooved on top; higher up, inflated, pouch-like sheaths surround the stem.

Flower

Domed umbels up to 15 cm across, white to pinkish, from July to September.

Stem

Thick, hollow, hairless and often flushed purple, with a white waxy bloom that rubs off.

Fruit/seed

Flat, oval fruits of 4–5 mm with broad wings; they float on water.

Confusion with

Hogweed has rough, hairy stems and broad, lobed leaves. Giant hogweed grows 3–4 m tall, with purple blotches and bristly hairs on the stem. Garden angelica has greenish-yellow flowers and a strong aromatic scent.

Flowering: July–September · Pruning: March and October

Why grow it?

• One of the best nectar plants of late summer: from July to September the umbels attract a great variety of insects.
• Stately structure of 1.5–2 m for a pond edge, a wet meadow or a stream bank.
• The hollow stems give shelter to overwintering insects.
• The faded umbels with flat, winged seeds are decorative in autumn and winter.
• It flowers late, when many other wild flowers are over.

Wild angelica: where does it grow best?

• In the wild: wet and damp grassland, tall-herb vegetation, ditch banks, stream sides, alder woods and damp woodland edges.
• Sun to part shade.
• Moist to wet, fertile soil; wet feet are no problem.
• In the garden: at the edge of a pond, in a wet corner or a bog bed, with 80 cm of space around the plant.

Goes well with

• Meadowsweet: Creamy plumes in the same wet soil, flowering a little earlier.
• Purple-loosestrife: Purple spikes for contrast, a favourite of bees and butterflies.
• Hemp-agrimony: Pink flower clusters in late summer, much loved by butterflies.
• Yellow iris: For the pond edge, flowering in May–June.
• Common valerian: Pinkish-white flower clusters for a moist border.

Wild angelica: when and how to plant it?

1. Buy a plant from a native plant nursery or sow seed of wild origin.
2. Sow fresh seed in September–November where it is to grow or in a pot left outdoors: the seed needs a cold period and soon loses its viability.
3. Press the seed in lightly, barely cover it and keep the soil moist.
4. Plant young plants in spring or autumn, 60–80 cm apart, in moist soil.
5. Water after planting and keep the soil moist during the first year.
6. Never dig up plants from the wild.

Care

Water

Not needed in a wet spot. In an ordinary border, water generously in dry summers.

Feeding

Not needed; moist, humus-rich soil provides enough.

Letting it seed

Let a few umbels self-seed: the plant is often short-lived and seedlings take over.

Mowing

Only mow a wet hay meadow in October, after the seed has ripened, and remove the cuttings.

Gloves

Wear gloves when cutting: the sap can irritate the skin in sunlight.

Tip: Do not throw the old stems away in March: tie them into bundles and lay them in a sunny, dry spot, and you have a free insect hotel.

Pruning and mowing

Pruning months: March and October.

When: Remove the old stems in March; mow a wet hay meadow in October.

How:

• Leave the faded umbels and hollow stems standing all winter.
• In March, cut the old stems off at the base.
• Tie the cut hollow stems into bundles or stack them in a pile: insects overwintering inside can still crawl out.
• Mow a wet hay meadow in October, once the seeds are ripe, and remove the cuttings.

Caution: Wear gloves and long sleeves: in combination with sunlight, the sap can irritate the skin.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Seed

Sow fresh seed outdoors in autumn. Dried seed that has been stored for a long time germinates poorly.

Self-seeding

In a moist, open spot it self-seeds; move seedlings while young, with a root ball.

Wild angelica: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −30 °C.

• The plant dies back above ground; the dry stems and umbels remain standing.
• Insects overwinter in the hollow stems.
• Fully hardy, to about −30 °C.
• After a generous flowering the plant sometimes dies completely; nearby seedlings then take over.

Diseases and pests

• Short-lived: After a few years of flowering the plant may disappear. Always let some seed fall.
• Aphids: On stems and umbels in summer; ladybirds and hoverfly larvae soon clear them.
• Skin irritation: In sunlight the sap can cause redness or blisters. Wear gloves and wash your skin if you get sap on it.
• Drought: In too dry a spot the leaves droop and the plant stays small. Choose a wet or moist spot.

Through the year

• March: Cut off old stems and stack them in a pile.
• April: New leaves emerge. Plant.
• May: The leaves grow into large clumps.
• June: The flowering stems shoot up.
• July: Flowering begins.
• August: Full flower: insects on the umbels.
• September: Last flowers; the seed ripens. Collect and sow fresh seed.
• October: Mow the wet hay meadow. Sow.
• December: Leave the dry stems and umbels standing.

Did you know?

• The name Angelica refers to angels: according to a medieval legend, an angel revealed the plant to people as a remedy against the plague.
• The seeds have broad wings and float on water, so streams and rivers carry them downstream.
• The stems of its relative, garden angelica, are candied; you find them as small, green, sugared pieces in some cakes and pastries.